I can't agree with this thinking. I have to be able to determine benefits on my own. I can't yield my own better judgment to someone else, or I cease to have autonomy. This is a frequent justification for the removal of civil liberties. The good outweighs your rights. It's also based on the false assumption that one would not donate their organs if not required to by opting out. And that alone, shows the coercive force of an opt out program. You have to look beyond the immediate benefit, to see the long term ramifications of going down this road. It sets a precedent, like a military draft does, that your body belongs to the state. That in some circumstances, dictated by the group, or by the state, that you do not have the right to free will. Very, very dangerous.
Public education is great but it requires funding, constant funding depending on the whims of who is at the helm, the patients do not have the time to wait for the right person (hopefully they elect the correct one) to initiate the public education. Bureaucracy and red tapes are the top killers. If I had the funds, if I have the political backing you can be sure that every motorist before they renew their license will have a mandatory public education on the pros and cons of organ donation. What if it is phrased in this way, there is no opt in or opt out, but when renewing your license, you will have to fill up the form before you can renew?
I understand where you're coming from as well, and maybe it's best to just take it on a case-by-case basis, by the issue. Practically speaking, with this issue, I have no problem, really, as I am in full agreement with the benefits it obtains. My only concern is that something like this becomes buried somewhere within a 5500 page bill (as we call them, in the States - don't know what you lot call your proposals in Parliament), with many other programs I would have a problem with passing unnoticed by any but the most investigative citizen. What's the problem with removing all barriers to opting in - making it incredibly easy - and the money saved generating an incredibly rigorous public education system on the issue?
Don't ever think you can't make a difference. You can. The internet is your canvas for an educational masterpiece. This is where you can reach the hearts and minds of young people, not only in America, but in the world. If you present the case, the benefits and the moral argument, you could probably effect the mass consciousness. Don't think you need money or political power. The days of the aristocrats owning the printing presses are long gone.
I agree. We can sit around pretending that our rights to our own bodies after death are being infringed and we can tape this issue on to our agenda of "the government is after me", But what this is really about is helping people. Who wouldn't want to help someone? It's safe to make the assumption that everybody would like to help if they can, And anyone who doesn't i'm sure would take the time to fill in the form saying so. As far as i know in the UK your next of kin has the final decision on whether your organs get used or not, regardless of what cards you carry, What your wishes were or any declaration you made.
It should be the persons choice whether they should want their organs used, not some Government idiot like Chubby Brown. lol too true mate, anthonycea was given an infraction and told that he was not needed: ever. That is wholly unfair because he made this P&R forum class with some of his insane ramblings and the way he used to wind up the insane neocon supporting loons.
Dun forget they still have that 5500 page bill If educating the public is effective without govt intervention, I am all for it, but govt intervention is always a problem whenever you try anything of that scale. In the end a tug of war only leaves the patients suffering. Political power and patronage has still not disappear and can continue to be a thorn in the flesh.
You were banned for this specifically- http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?p=6044802#post6044802 The next time you attack someone, it's going to be permanent. And nobody gets banned for "speaking their mind". Unless they're breaking the rules in the process. Also, check your user CP the next time you're issued an infraction. There's a link to the post there. "Suppressing freedom of speech..."- ha ha ha!
I was banned for that??? You gotta be kidding! So irony and sarcasm are in violation of the forum rules now? I see Gtech make some crazy posts on an hourly basis. I can post the links where Gtech calls Guerilla all kinds of names, yet he is still around. Care to explain? You don't think you are being a bit bias here? Also you can not rule the forum with an iron fist, I don't think thats what Sean had in mind when he launched this forum. If he wanted a fascist forum where you could only say what was to be "acceptable" and one sided personal views and beliefs of the mods than I think he would have an issue with that.
Guru, you repeatedly and consistently called me an anti-Muslim racist, knowing full well this wasn't true, and were following me around the forum, on many off-topics. This wasn't sarcasm, nor was it irony. I'm willing to shake hands and move on, obviously, as my contributions to this thread show - you've created a very worthwhile topic for discussion. I'm requesting we both leave history behind and keep to substance. Edited: Sorry, didn't see your additions until now. Rob acted properly. I regret it came to this. Seeing you were back, I welcomed you back in good faith, and mean it now. But referring to this forum as a "fascist" forum isn't the best leg forward, in my opinion. Again, a request, member to member, that we stick to substance, and move on.
Sounds good. I shake your hand virtually and will make an effort to refrain myself for getting too emotionally involved with the issues.
Join the club. I think Gtech has made some irrational comments and he constantly calls Guerilla a lier, something that I disagree with as I had read Guerilla posts he has to be one of the most polite, intelligent posters here.
Thats because you are a...nevermind, I don't want to get banned... Lots of people disagree here...I think what Rob is saying (correct me if I am wrong), is that we can disagree without it being a personal attack...afterall, there are two sticky's about this at the top of the P&R forum... and guerilla, I agree with your comments about the internet as well....well said. if you need a dictionary to learn how to spell, send me your address...I will mail it to you for free.